In 1899, he traveled to Copenhagen to work at Det nordiske Forlag, one of Scandinavia's leading publishers.
In between, Baardseth had the chance for self-employment when he took over leadership of Steenske Forlag, a small company that dated to 1829.
After a half year, he offered to buy the publishing house, and he was able to, with financial help from Jørgen W. Cappelen III.
One of the first major tasks he undertook was a complete release of all works that 19th-century Norwegian writer Henrik Wergeland had written.
In many fields, he took up the fight to improve conditions of workers, from education and scholarship schemes to salary and pension.